Art of liquid filling



April 23, 1935. J. D. LE FRANK 1,993,462

ART OF LIQUID FILLING Filed July 3, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jayr J gagINVENTORKV Y a ATTORNEYS J. D. .LE FRANK ART OF LIQUID FILLING 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 3, 1933 April '23, 1 35.

.dtented Apr. 23, 1935 4 7 v v I UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE ART F LIQUIDFILLING John. Daniel Le Frank, Maplewood, J., assignmto American CanCompany, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application July3, 1933, Serial No. 678,96 11. Claims. (01. 226-116) The presentinvention relates to the art of Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 are plan sectionalviews taken liquid filling and has particular reference to 1311- throughthe valve unit and illustrating different ing liquid into tin cans orthe like by means of valve settings; and v vacuum so that the height offill within the can Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are schematic transverse sec- 5 isaccurately controlled by control of the degree tional views of the valveshowing a part of the 5 I of vacuum. can being taken respectively alongthe section The invention contemplates the vacuumizing lines 6-6, 1-1and 8-8 in the respective plan of the interior of a can at asubstantially high views 3, 4 and 5.

degree of vacuum and thence introducing given It is the'present purposeto illustrate only suifilO quantities of atmospheric air into thevacuum-- cient of an apparatus to'give a clear understand- 10 ized spaceso that the degree of vacuum is reduced ing of the features of the'present invention and to a point where the proper head space willresult to this end the'drawings disclose a portion of a, in the canafter filling, to the end that the height vacuum filling head which maybe a part of a of fill is easily controlled and easily varied withmoreelaborate machine. i

[5 out the necessity of changing vacuum pumps or Such a disclosureembodies a liquid tank 2| 5 other vacuum producing means for theoriginal (Fi 1) which is closed at its bottom by a plate withdrawal ofair from the can. 22 located in a depression 23 formed in the bot Animportant object of the invention is the tom 24 of the tank. This tankis adapted to provision of a method and such parts of an appa- Contain afilling liquid 25 which is to be put into 30 ratus as will create in'asimple manner, a definite t A filling head unit 3| is S cu 0 tvacuumized condition within a can which when outer Wall Of t tank 21 andis supported theresubjected to the flow of a liquid will produce a y. tis u t being adapted to receive a an 3 liquid fill in the can to apredetermined height. which in most cases will partially contain a solidThe invention also contemplates a ready a d content 33 such as tomatoesor the like and 33 exact adjustment of the amount of air introducedwhich is 130 be filled with liquid 25 into a vacuumized can so that anadjusted degree The fllling h ad u 3| Comprises a dy 35 i of fill withinlimits may be easily obtained. (Fi 1 a d w ich is fo med Witha reducedOne simple form of apparatus contemplated for c 36 merging into aVertically extending ht ellecting the desired results requires merelythe angled foot 31 y means of which it s j t- ;0 operation of a valvetopresent a clamped or h ably secured to and carried on the outside Wallopen mouth can successively to several operations the bank Q foot P 37ay be wherein the all is first substantially removed clamped to the sidewall o the tank in any suitfrom the-can interior, then the degree ofvacuum able mahnerr in the can is reduced by admission of a predeter-The unit body Carries a rubber ng 4 i d m nt of atmospheric air for tpurpose which is vulcanized or otherwise secured on the 35 of regulatingthe amount of liquid which will be Outside of a holding ring 2. Th hodin i drawninto the vacuumized interior at the next is formed with a topplate 43which rests against or filling step, the result of theseoperations the under Surface ofthe y A pp 44 effecting a fill whileleaving a definite head space is located on the under Side Of this .p t3 10 in the can, the amount of air introduced at the and the ring 42 andpp 44 a e held in fixed.

second step giving such control. position 011 the y 35 y a Screw 45.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the rubber ring 4| y b med withan invention will be apparent as it is better underinclined lower edgewhich is adapted 170 e enstood from the following description, which, iad by the pp p d of the can 32'when :5 taken in connection with theaccompanyin the latter is raised into position on a can sup- 45drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment P Unit The resiliency 0f thering 00- thereof. operates with the support to efiect a tight sealReferring to the drawings: between the head and the open end of the canFigure 1 is a sectional view of apart of an apwhi w n a p d against therubber ring is .0 paratllsembodying a filling head, a valve u it, inposition for vacuumizing and filling. The can and clamping devices forholdinga can sealed support unit 46 may be raised in any suitableagainst atmosphere while vacuumizingand fillmanner to effect theclamping function. ing, the filling head and valve positions shown It iscontemplated that a .high vacuum will being a sectional disclosure asviewed along the usually be first drawn or, in other words, the r brokenline ll in Fig.2; air will be removed substantially from the interior ofthe clamped can 32 prior to filling and in order to preventcollapse ordistortion of the can wall by the excessive atmosphericpressure on theoutside can, encircling and protecting instrumentalities are provided.

These clamp against the wall of the can and by preventing their movementduring the vacuumizing operation prevent distortion or collapse. Forthis purpose a fixed jaw 5| (Fig. 1) is secured to the can support unit46 and is carried up with the can and the unit. The inner wall of thisjaw corresponds in size and curvature with the exterior wall of the canbody 32 and is substantially a half cylinder so that a substantialsection of the can body is engaged by the jaw.

A movable jaw 52 is provided for encircling the opposite half portion ofthe can wall. The jaw 52 is secured to a holding member 53 which isprovided with spaced arms 54 which are pivotally mounted on a pin 55carried in the body part 35. The movable jaw can be hinged on the pin 55through practically 135 of movement and a cam, or more accurately, twocams control such movement.

In one position the movable jaw 52 is raised so that the can 32 may beproperly inserted on the lifting device 46 and in the other position(Fig. l) the movable jaw is held in can wall protecting position whereit cooperates with the fixed jaw 5|, the two jaws encircling the canbody during its vacuumization and filling.

The arms 54 provide bearings for a horizontal pin 56 which carries a camroller plate 51. The cam roller plate carries a shouldered and headedstud 6| which is held by a locknut 62. The stud 6| provides a rotatablesupport for a cam roller 63 which rides against a cam track 64 when themovable jaw 52 is in the position illustrated in Fig. 1. The roller 63also cooperates with another cam when swinging and holding the jaw 52away from the can.

The horizontal pin 56 rocking in its bearings allows for slidingmovement between the frame part 53 and the cam roller mounting 51 andprovides for a yielding clamping action of the movable jaw 52 on thewall of the can as it is held in the filling head. When in this clampingposition stop lugs 65 do not touch the jaw frame 53 and have no missionbut do so engage the frame to limit movement of the plate 51 on theframe when the jaw 52 is lifted. The stop lugs are formed as integralparts of the mounting 51.

The frame part 51 is provided with a bore 1| in which a spring barrel 12is slidably mounted. A spring 13 located in the spring barrel normallytends to push the latter outwardly against the jaw 52 to hold the camroller 63 against the can 64 and this provides the yielding connectionpreviously referred to. With the can 32 securely clamped within thefilling head 3| and its upper edge engaging the rubber 4| the can isready for the first or vacuumizing step.

To control this vacuumizing step and also succeeding steps in thefilling of the can, a valve unit is utilized which cooperates with thefilling head. The valve unit is carried in a bracket 8| provided with afoot 82 located in a vertical groove 83 formed in the tank wall 2|directly above the filling head body foot 31.

Provision is made for a fine adjustment of the vertical position of thevalve position and a vertical adjusting bolt 84 is located within thefoot 82 of the bracket 8| for this purpose. This bolt is threadedlyconnected at 85 with the bracket and is formed with a head 86 whichrests in 9.

slot 81 formed in the filling head body foot. The upper end of the bolt84 extends above the bracket BI and carries a nut 88 which is pinned onthe bolt. This-nut provides means for turning the bolt to raise andlower the bracket into the desired position. After the bracket has beenproperly located it is secured to the tank wall 2| in any suitablemanner.

Each bracket 8| supports the actuation or -control for a rotary valve 9|which is located above the filling head body 35. The valve 9| is formedwith a smooth bottom surface which engages a similar upper surface ofthe body member and these surfaces are closely fitted that they providean air tight and liquid tight joint which is maintained during rotationof the valve to effect the various filling operations.

The valve 9| has a stem 92 which connects in a slot and tongue joint 93to the lower end of a vertically extending sleeve 94. This sleeve isrotatably mounted in the bracket 8| and extends upwardly to a pointabove the bracket. The upper end of the sleeve carries an operatingspider 95 by means of which it is actuated to rotate the valve 9|through substantially at each operation. A spacer block 96 is alsomounted on the sleeve 94 below the spider 95 and the locknut 91threadedly engaging the upper threaded end of the sleeve, holds theparts together as a unit and in rotatable position within the bracket8|.

Each filling head body 3| (Figs. 1 and 2) is formed with a verticalpassageway IOI which connects with an inclined passageway I02. Thislatter opening communicates with an inclined passageway I03 formed inthe bottom 24 of the tank 2|. The opposite end of the passageway I03terminates in the side wall of a chamber I04 which is located in thebottom of the tank below the bottom plate 22. This chamber I04'issuitably connected at all times with a source of vacuum such as a vacuumpump or vacuum tank and any air introduced into the chamber I04 isimmediately withdrawn.

Other passages are also formed in the filling head body 35 as well as inthe valve 9| and it is the mission of the latter to connect certain ofthese body passageways. Different positions of the valve provide for theproper selection of such of these connections as are desired to producea given result as will now be explained.

An oblong chamber IN is formed in the lower part of the valve 9| and oneend of this opening is at the center of the valve and is therefore atall times in communication with the upper end of the passageway IOI.' Itis accordingly exhausted of air at all times. When the can 32 is firstraised into the filling head the valve and body are in the relativeposition as shown in Figs. 3 and 6 the passageway IOI being the onlyconnection at such time with the chamber I01. At the same time theinterior of the can is open to atmosphere by means of passages in bothvalve and filling head body.

The filling head body 35 is cut through with a nearly verticalpassageway III, the lower end of which registers with an opening |I2 cutthrough the top 43 of the ring 42 and this opens into the space withinthe ring and at the top part of the clamped can 32. The upper end of thepassageway I l registers at this time with an inclined port II3 formedin the valve 9| and it is by means of these openings II3, III, II! thatthe upper open end of the can is in communication with the atmosphere.

ing at all times in communication with the charti- Both the head body 35and the valve 9| in. the plan views (Figs. 2 to 5jinclusive) are markedwith arrows which indicate a definite point on each and by referring tothe different views and to the relative positions of the head and valvearrows, the angular valve position may be easily noted. The valvemovement takes place in acounter-clockwise direction. The neutral valve90 of travel and the position of the parts after such movement isindicated in Fig. 2 where it will be observed that the two arrows o are90 separate. This valve position gives the'vacuumizing step of theapparatus and at such time the interior of the can is in communicationwith the vacuum 7 chamber I 04.

It will also be observed that the chamber I01 (Figs, 1 and 2) now joinsthe passageways IDI,"

H I and air is accordingly withdrawn from the interior of the canthrough the openings I I2, I I I, I01, IDI, I02, I03 and the 'chamberI04. Since the chamber I64'is at all times. on vacuum which ispreferably a high degree of :vacuum the interior of the can iscorrespondingly brought into' the highly vacuumized state.

The sec. 1d movement of the valve is through.

a further 90 of turn or from the position of Figs. 1 and 2 through orpastthe-valve positions of Figs. 4 and 7. This is, a fly position whichmeans-that the valve does not stop there but i 'moveson to its stopposition, the arrows o .in Fig. 4 indicating that the valve has notquitereached .its full 90 of turn.

' The relation of the parts shown is utilized for the introduction "of agiven quantity'of atmospheric air into the interior of the highlyvacuumized can. The short time in which connection is made for thispurpose between the atmosphere and the interior of the can is purposelyprovided to limit the amount of atmospheric air passing into the can.This passage of air into the can and the purpose of the operation willnow be described. i The stem 92 of the valve 9| is provided with acounter bore I I5 (Figs. 1 and 6) in which a packing gland H6 isdisposed to provide an air tight I seat for the lower end of a tube II!which is is provided with a thumb screw H9 which conlocated inside ofthe sleeve 94. This tube is inserted from above and its lower end whereit passes into the valve stem is inserted in the packing gland I I6,this construction permitting free rotation of the valve relative to thetube but .pre-' venting lateral movement.

A needle valve I I8 is threadedly engaged in the upper end of the tubeII'I,-this being at a point above the locknut 91 of. the sleeve 94. Thisvalve trols a valve opening I2I formed in the valve body and which leadsinto the interior of the tube I H. A lateral port I22 is formed in thebody of the valve '8 and is open to atmosphere, the air passes theposition of Figs. 4 and '7 an inclined port I26 connects the chamberI25with the passageway III, the upper end of the port I26 beber- I25.Atmosphere passes through the tube II! but its amount is controlledbythe n eedle valve I I8. It expands andfills the interior of thevacuumized can.

The opening I 2 I,in the needle valve I I6 is closely adjusted tocontrol to an extremely delicate point theamount of air which willpassinto the tube Ill and into theinteriorof thejvacuumized can during:the time the lower end of the port I26 is in register with thepassageway .I I I. In this way an exact precletermined amount'ofatmospheric air is introduced into the vacuumized in-' .terior of thecan.v Sufficient air is thus 'brought;

into the space within the can and this ,air supply is cut off at theright time by'the continuedniovement of the valve.

The valve at its stop position cuts off registra tion between the portI26 and passageway III and locks any further inflow of air into the can.During the stop position or when thevalve 9| is on its second period ofrest this air which has been introduced into the can has ample time toequalize and completely fills the interior of the can as an expanded orrarefied atmosphere.

The degree of rarefication is accurately figured in accordance with theheight of liquid fill desired in the can.

.While the valve is at rest on its second stop position one .end of achamber I3I formed in the valve BI is in communication with a verticalsection I32 of a passageway I33 formed in the filling head body 35. Thischamber (Fig. 4) is formed with arcuate side walls and rounded ends andthe forward end of the chamber is just coming into communication withthe passageway I32 as the valve passes its fly position of Fig. 4.

I -The passageway I33 in the body 35 is at alltimes in communicationwitha passageway I34 formed in the. bottom 24 of the tank 2I and the innerend of this passageway is open to the liquid 25 in the tank. Thepassageways I32, I33 and I34 areat-all time's filled with liquid as longas there is any liquid in the tanlband as soon as the chamber I3I comesintocommunication with the upper end of the passageway I32 the liquidflows into and fills the chamber I3I. It

is not until the next or third valve movement, however, that thischamber I3I has any other connection than with the passageway I 32.

The third quadrant of movement of the valve 9I positions the parts forfilling, this being disclosed in Figs. 5 and 8. At such time the chamberI3I passes over and communicates with the upper end of a slightlyinclined passageway I4I formed in the head body 35. As soon as thistakes place the liquid within the chamber I3I flows through thepassagewayMI- and through a communicating opening I42 cut in the topwall 43 of the ring 42 and oninto the interior of the can. This fillingis very rapid since a substantial vacuum is in the can and atmosphere isat all times pressing down on the surface of the liquid in the tank.

It will be recalled that a given quantity of the can. v

This space above the liquid is constantly reduced as more liquid passesinto the can interior and there comes a time when the resultingcompression of air again equals atmospheric pressure or a little inexcess of it to also overcome the hydrostatic head of the higher levelin the tank. When such a point of compression is reached a balance takesplace and the flow of liquid ceases.

The height to which the liquid rises in the can depends entirely uponthe amount of air trapped in the can as determined by the amount ofatmospheric air which is introduced into the interior of the can throughthe needle valve H8. Each can therefore passing through the machine witha given setting of the needle valve is evenly filled.

By changing the setting I IQ of the needle valve more or less air isintroduced into the can and a, greater or lesser degree of vacuum isprovided. This directly affects the head space eventually resulting inthe can as it is filled and by means of such adjustment any desiredheight of fill of the liquid within the can is obtained. Thus it will beapparent that the vacuumizing energy need not be disturbed to adjust forthe fill of liquid and the same vacuum pump installation is used for allfills. A high vacuum is naturally more desirable as this firstvacuumization feature must be sufficient to cover or include the highestvacuum (highest fill) desired.

On the fourth movement of the valve 9| the parts are shifted from theposition indicated in Figs.-5 and 8 back to the positions of Figs. 3 and6 and in the latter position air flows into the top of the filled can.It is then free to be removed, all of the steps of filling having beencompleted at such time.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantageswill be understood from the foregoing description, and it will beapparent that various changes may be made in the steps of the processdescribed and their order of accomplishm'ent without departingfrom thespirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its materialadvantages, the process hereinbefore described being merely a preferredembodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. The method of liquid filling cans to a predetermined height whichcomprises, vacuumizing the interior of the can, introducing a smallquantity of atmospheric air into the vacuumized can to reduce the degreeof vacuum to a desired amount in accordance with the amount oi filldesired, and thence flowing liquid into the can to the height permittedby the vacuumized condition of the can.

2. I'he method of liquid filling cans to a predetermined height whichcomprises, vacuumizing the interior of the can to a vacuum higher thanrequired for the amount of liquid fill desired, introducing apredetermined quantity of atmospheric air into the highly vacuumized canto reduce the degree of vacuum to the exact amount of vacuum requiredfor the desired fill, and thence flowing liquid into the can to thedesired height as determined by the degree of vacuum.

3, The method of liquid filling cans to a predetermined height whichcomprises, vacuumizing the interior of the can to a relatively highvacuum, introducing a predetermined quantity of atmospheric air into thehighly vacuumized can to reduce the degree of vacuum, the exact amountof air so introduced being equal to that required for the desired headspace for the filled can, and thence causing the liquid to flow into thecan until stopped by the air in said head space.

4. The method of liquid filling cans to a predetermined height whichcomprises, vacuumizing the interior of the can to a relatively highvacuum, holding the can in this vacuumized condition to stabilize itsinterior, introducing a predetermined quantity of atmospheric air intothe highly vacuumized can and permitting its diffusion into saidinterior to reduce the degree of vacuum and to provide a head spaceatmosphere, and thence introducing liquid under gravity fiow into thecan so that its rarefied atmosphere is constantly changed, the air beingcompressed as the can is filling, this air forming a head space abovethe liquid and when compressed to a sufficient degree to offset theforce of gravity flow of the liquid preventing further filling of thecan.

5. The method of liquid filling cans to a predetermined height whichcomprises, sealing the open end of a can with an air-tight joint,vacuumizing the interior of the can to a higher vacuum than required forthe filling while maintaining said seal, introducing a predeterminedquantity of atmospheric air into the vacuumized can and permitting itsdiffusion into said interior while still sealed to reduce the degree ofvacuum and provide a definite head space atmosphere for the can, andthence introducing liquid under a gravity flow into the can without breking said seal so that the can is filled with its head space atmosphereabove the liquid.

6. The method of liquid filling cans to a predetermined height whichcomprises, clamping the can by protecting walls to prevent its collapseduring vacuumizing, vacuumizing the interior of the canwith a relativelyhigh vacuum while so protected and clamped, introducing a predeterminedquantity of atmospheric air into the highly vacuumized can andpermitting its diffusion into said interior to reduce the degree ofvacuum and to provide a head space atmosphere, and thence introducingliquid under a gravity flow into the can so that the rarefied atmospheretherein is constantly compressed as the can is filled until suchcompression is sufficient to offset the force of fiow of the liquid intothe can.

7. A vacuum filling machine for cans, comprising in combination, afilling head adapted to hold a can to be filled, means operating throughsaid head for vacuumizing the interior of said held can, means forintroducing a definite quantity of atmospheric air into said vacuumizedcan to alter its degree of vacuum, and means for filling said can withliquid to a predetermined level in accordance with its degree of vacuum.

8. A vacuum fillingmachine for filling cans with a liquid, comprising incombination, a filling head adapted to hold a can to be filled, clampingjaws for protecting the can wall against collapse, means operatingthrough said head for vacuumizing the interior of said held can to arelatively high degree of vacuum, means for introducing a definitequantity of atmospheric air into said vacuumized can to reduce itsdegree of vacuum in amount required for the desired amount of fill, andmeans for filling said can with liquid to the predetermined level asdetermined by its degree of vacuum.

9. A vacuum filling machine for cans, comprising in combination, aliquid supply tank, a filling head mounted adjacent said tank andadapted to hold a can to be filled, and a combination valve unitassociated with said head for establishing communication when in oneposition between the interior of the held can and a source of vacuum, ina second position between said can interior and a quantity ofatmospheric air, and in a third position between the interior of saidcan and the interior of the said supply tank whereby the said can isfilled with liquid to a predetermined height.

10. A vacuum filling machine for cans, comprising in combination, aliquid supply tank containing a liquid open to atmosphere, a fillinghead mounted adjacent said tank and adapted .to hold a can to be filled,and a combination valve unit associated with said head for establishingcommunication when in one position between the interior of the held canand a source of vacuum to vacuumize the can interior to a relativelyhigh degree of vacuum, in a second position between said can andatmospheric air for a definite time to receive a predetermined quantityof air into the can, and in a third position between said can and theinterior of the said supply tank whereby the former is filled withliquid to a predetermined height.

11. 'A vacuum filling machine for cans, comprising in combination, afilling head adapted to hold a can to be filled, means operating throughsaid head for vacuumizing the interior of said held can, means forholding said vacuumized can in its vacuumized condition, means forintroducing atmospheric airinto said vacuumized can to alter its degreeof vacuum, means for filling said can with liquid, and means foraltering the amount of atmospheric air introduced to adjust for adefinite head space in the can being filled so that the liquid flowingtherein will fill the can to a predetermined height of level.

JOHN DANIEL LE FRANK.

